The SACRE received an update on key issues
that had occurred since their last meeting, including:

a)
A report had been produced by the All Party Parliamentary Group
(APPG) on RE as a result of enquiring into Religious
Literacy. Many of the notable points
within “Improving Religious Literacy” were reflected
well within the new Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus for
RE. Ten of the report’s
recommendations related to RE and many of these were concerned with
ensuring that RE was taught to a consistent standard of excellence
by specialist or properly prepared teachers who had good access to
continuing professional development.

b)
In a bid to halt any confusion surrounding the need to include both
religious and non-religious views in religious studies, the DFE had
issued some clear advice. Members considered the guidance note in
full.

c)
An Independent Commission had been established by the Religious
Education Council (REC) to make wide-ranging recommendations in
relation to RE in schools. NASACRE is
an important member of the REC and was encouraging member SACREs to
include a discussion about the Commission on future agendas.

d)
Members were encouraged to follow both NASACRE and Entrust on
Twitter for news, ideas and updates.

RESOLVED:

a)
That the update on key issues be noted; and

That, in the light of the APPG report, and the
results of the annual survey on RE provision in Staffordshire
considered at the meeting in July, an item on the training of staff
delivering RE in schools be included on
the agenda for the next meeting.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and
Director for Families and Communities

Minutes:

The Chairman gave an update on recent NASACRE
events, including:

a)
The NASACRE Annual Meeting was to take place on 16 May 2017 at the
Hilton Hotel in York and the speaker was Joyce Miller;

b)
A joint conference was to be held with AREIAC in Birmingham on 6
March 2017;

c)
The next round of awards were being announced by the Westhill Foundation, the deadline for submission of
applications was the end of March 2017;

d)
A colloquium on Citizenship, Religion, Philosophy and Values in
Education had sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Education
to urge the Government to promote Citizenship, RE and PSHE in order
to build respectful schools and Societies in post-Brexit Britain;
and

e)
The Chairman tabled copies of the proposed revised NASACRE
Constitution for members’ consideration and
views. It was agreed that the response
to NASACRE should be that the Staffordshire SACRE was broadly in
support of the changes.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and
Director for Families and Communities

Minutes:

The Tell MAMA Annual Report was launched in
Parliament on 29 June and highlights hate crime against Muslims in
the UK. “The Geography of
Anti-Muslim Hatred” looked at where Muslims reported hate
crime against them. Some key points
emerged:

The majority of hate crimes were
directed at women who were visibly Muslim;

The majority were perpetrated by
white males; and

The majority occurred on or near an
A Road or transport hub.

Of particular concern to SACRE was that 11% of
attacks were in places of education.
The report commented that it was important that headteachers, teachers, and safeguarding leads in
schools were trained to deal with Islamophobia and ant-Muslim
hate.

Members were informed that many of the notable
points relating to education were reflected well within the aims of
the new Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus, through which schools are
given a steer to include Islam within their programme of study.

Members agreed that they would like
clarification on any issues which were being experienced in
Staffordshire and what actions were being taken to ensure that
Muslim pupils are kept safe. To this
end, they agreed that the Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew
Ellis, should be invited to a future meeting to speak to SACRE
about this issue in schools. SACRE also
requested that a letter be sent to the LA for information on any
initiatives that were taking place to help tackle the issues raised
in the report.

RESOLVED – That the
Police and Crime Commissioner be invited
to a future meeting, to inform SACRE of Staffordshire’s
position on hate crime in schools and how it is addressed.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and
Director for Families and Communities

Minutes:

The revised Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus was
freely available to all schools on the Entrust RE
website. Feedback had been positive and
the uptake of a series of introductory training sessions for
schools had been high. It was possible
that the Syllabus would be adopted by other SACREs. Members agreed that it was important that
the Syllabus be given an official launch, although there were
concerns around funding owing to the current spending
controls. It was agreed that the
possibility of a launch in the New Year be investigated by the
Chairman, Emma Jardine-Phillips and the Finance Team at the County
Council. A costing would be put
together for a drop-in session between 2 – 5 pm, with a
speaker and a list of signposting details to resources to take
away.

RESOLVED – That funding
for an official launch of the revised Staffordshire Agreed Syllabus
be investigated.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and
Director for Families and Communities

Minutes:

SACREs are required to produce an annual
report of their work. This report would
be distributed electronically to NASACRE and headteachers of all schools in the County, and
would be available to teacher associations and local faith
communities via the Entrust website.
SACRE were requested to read and approve the report prior to
general distribution.

RESOLVED – That the
report be emailed to members and any comments and/or amendments be
submitted to Emma Jardine-Phillips by the end of November.

The 2017 Accord Inclusivity Award was seeking
to reward those SACREs who work hardest in their area towards
boosting the growth of inclusion, cohesion and mutual understanding
between those of different religions and beliefs.

Members had group discussions on their work
and achievements in this area to decide whether Staffordshire SACRE
should complete an application form, paying particular attention to
the guidance set out in the application form. In considering the guidance members expressed
disappointment about the number of activities listed which SACRE
was no longer involved with owing to budgetary constraints.

RESOLVED – That an
application be made for an Accord Award.

21.

Applications for Variation of Practice

To consider any applications for variation of
practice to religious education and or collective worship –
oral update by Emma Jardine-Phillips, Religious Education
Consultant

Minutes:

There were none on this occasion.

22.

SACRE Budget

Report to be tabled, with an oral update by
Emma Jardine-Phillips, Religious Education Consultant

Minutes:

SACRE received a breakdown of the current
SACRE budget for the financial year 2016 – 2017. The balance remaining was
£5,705.00.

RESOLVED – That the
budget details be noted.

23.

Date of next meeting

The next SACRE meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 8
February

2017, 2.00pm, Kingston Centre,
Stafford.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the next
SACRE meeting be held on 8 February 2017, 2.00 pm, at The Kingston
Centre, Stafford.